DRY VEGETATION ALONG ALMADEN’S GUADALUPE CREEEK AND SURROUNDING PERCOLATION PONDS CAUSED SAN JOSE’S FIRE STATION #13 TO RESPOND TO A FIRE THIS LAST FRIDAY 25 JULY 2014, WHILE SIGNS OF SEVERE DROUGHT WERE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THIS VITAL WATERSHED AND PARK AREA.

De·AnzaPost reported on the fire that day, which was recorded at 1:55pm by Pulse Point Foundation, an online alert system with notifications.

The fire of concern was along Coleman Road in Almaden, a thoroughfare that runs to the side of the Guadalupe Creek and Los Capitancillos percolation ponds, as well as (for a portion) the Villas of Almaden townhouse community. This portion of Coleman Road stretches along the creek, between Meridian Avenue and Almaden Expressway.

Fire at Coleman Road in Almaden, between Guadalupe Creek and the Villas of Almaden townhouse community.

At the cross of Coleman Road and Almaden Expressway is a significant junction, not just in terms of automobile traffic and but public trails; but, more notably, the county and regional watershed. At the junction, are the creeks and river ecology that merge and run out to the San Francisco Bay. All that happens right here.

At one corner of the intersection is the Almaden Lake; which has a significant social legacy, as much as ecological significance; plus, it’s used by CalFire for large-scale vegetation fires. Just last year, this lake became subject of a mandate by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. As part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, that board oversees the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); whereby it is currently requiring that the Santa Clara Valley Water District control the production and release of methyl-mercury from Almaden Lake.

At the opposite corner of this intersection is an entrance to the Los Capitancillos percolation ponds and a public tail; but, as of late, the water has all disappeared and it looks starkly different. The vegetation, from here and out to Meridian Avenue and beyond, is all dried out.

Just a block south of the fire, from Recife Way and Coleman Road, is an entrance to Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, all of which is bordered by the Villas of Almaden town homes. This entire grove includes “century” oak trees, or San Jose “Heritage Trees” that are said to be hundreds of years old; as well as that the master plan for this park once revealed that this location is believed to be a former Ohlone Indian people’s habitat. Presently, it is all surrounded by dense, yellowed grass that goes up the hillside and meets nearby residences. This park is open for activity during the day, and closed at nightfall. But, the conditions appear ominous, as if it could be prone to rapidly spreading fire.

Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in Almaden

An entrance to Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in Almaden.

Just opposite of Coleman Road and the creek is the site of the old Almaden Winery, now a park within yet another residential community, although this is mostly residential now.

Although station 22 is also nearby at Bose Lane and Camden Avenue, Station 13 seems to be the appropriate station. Station 13 is 7 to 8 minutes away from the site of the fire, a distance of 2.7 miles of travel. Comparatively, Station 22 at Bose Lane has an engine, a Hi-Tech Pumper with a 1500 gallon per minute pump. Still, Station 13 appears to be better equipped than Station 22, although it is just 5 minutes away with a distance of 2.5 miles.

SJFD Station 22 of Almaden turns out onto Camden Avenue from Bose Lane. This fire station is across the street from the Almaden Community Center.

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Both of these stations are joined by a few others, all of which are serving an area that currently has vast expanses of dry vegetation, some of which is along creeks and rivers, but others within parks and along hillsides.

Both the funding source and expenditure schedule for a 5 year period, from 2012 to 2017, amounts to $27,925 for equipment.

Other area stations include 12 at Calero & Cahalan; 28 at McKean Road; and 9 at Ross Avenue.

CalFire’s Station 22 is just down the street from San Jose’s Station 28 on McKean Road.

Last year, Almaden residents were concerned about nearby Almaden Lake, which is sometimes used as a CalFire source, drawing water to put out fires by aerial dumps.

It waslast 14 June 2013, that a local group known as Save Almaden Lake posted a video showing CalFire and using the water resources of that lake to extinguish nearby vegetation fires in the hill areas of Almaden. Residents here have been concerned about the ecological health of the lake, as well as its role within public recreation, the valley watershed and even fire and safety programs. The video on Facebook shows helicopters dredging water from the lake to dump on a fire nearby

CalFire’s regional headquarters for the Santa Clara valley are at Monterey Street in Morgan Hill; but, its Alma aerial attack/Helitack base is located in Los Gatos, along the Santa Cruz Highway and the back-end of Lexington Reservoir.

Indeed, going south of the site of the fire at Coleman road, the creek runs out towards the borders of Almaden Quicksilver Park and the Sierra Azul Open Space Pereserve. A trail connects to Hicks Road and the Lexington Reservoir towards Los Gatos.

At the opposite point of this stretch of Coleman Road is entry to the Los Capitancillos percolation ponds that are behind the creek and road; as this is cater-corner to Almaden Lake Park at Almaden Expressway. A public trail is available along this route, going out towards Los Gatos. Current sight of it, however, is quite the contrary to how it appeared back in 2011, before the drought set-in with severe impact.

Before and after photographs show how much the percolation ponds along Coleman Road and Guadalupe Creek have dried-up over the last two years; whereas, they are presently completely evaporated. A visit shows a bone-dry creek bed, as well as exposure of the percolation pond’s bed with its rich black soil, now baking in the sun. None of this area where the fire was located appears to have water, as it’s been completely taken over by thirsty wildlife and vegetation.

Guadalupe Creek Watershed: Los Capitancillos percolation ponds

Guadalupe Creek Watershed: Los Capitancillos percolation ponds, dried-out from the 2014 Drought, as pictured as of 25 July 2014; with fire nearby on Coleman Road.

This is a stark contrast to Almaden Lake Park, which presents itself, alongside the Santa Clara Valley Water District headquarters, much looking like an illusory oasis of sorts. Around the lake remain frolicking children and a flock of Canadian geese that seems more than comfortable to stay put at the source… after all, water in this area is becoming a scarce resource for many of the wildlife, including quail, deer, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits and many others. Nearby, there does not seem to be anything for wildlife to draw a drink. Fish and other stream life seem to be completely out of luck in most cases. It’s would also seem to be questionable what kinds of wildlife would come into a public park area, where its typically preoccupied by valley residents. At that, Almaden Lake is scheduled for clean-up and reclamation work in the near future, so it’s also a wonder what will happen then.

Almaden Lake almost looks to be in its usual state, but surrounding systems are anything but that.

January 2013, a woman crashed her car into this pond and died; but, as of July 2014, the “North Pond” from Alamitos Pond is completely dried-out.

January 2013, a woman crashed her car into this pond and died; but, as of July 2014, the “North Pond” from Alamitos Pond is completely dried-out.

Just up from there, is also the Summer Winds nursery, which caught on fire during August 2013, creating a three-alarm fire and creating a threat to area ground water, if the fertilizers there had not been contained.

Last summer 2013 (August), a three-alarm fire at the Summer Winds nursery created bit of panic, making sure to contain chemicals (like fertilizer) from contaminating ground water systems and going into the nearby Guadalupe River.

Those memories of last year were not all that good, but the potential for this year seems worse, as it’s not over yet.

About two weeks ago, de·Anza post reported on the Los Gatos Creek, saying that the county county had made an estimate based on current developments; whereas, it was estimated that the area will hit what’s called a “minimum pool” by October of this year. The Water District estimated that Lexington Reservoir will reach a shallow depth, whereby the water level is lower than the release outlet, thereby bringing the surrounding area to a dry spell, until rainfall.

Regardless of official status of the Lexington Reservoir, it’s apparent that this “dry spell” has already arrived at many of the creeks and rivers in the valley. The weekend from 25 to 27 July 2014 has seen bone-dry creeks, rivers and percolation ponds… aside from very dry vegetation and fire.